September 24, 2024 – Heavy Calcium Carbonate: A Versatile Inorganic Filler Gaining Momentum Across Multiple Industries
Heavy calcium carbonate, with its core component being calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and a molecular weight of 100.09 g/mol, has emerged as a prominent player in the realm of inorganic fillers. Its wide-ranging applications in plastics, papermaking, coatings, rubber, and even food and pharmaceuticals underscore its exceptional value. This article delves into the multifaceted characteristics and production processes of this vital chemical raw material.
Presenting as a white powder, heavy calcium carbonate boasts excellent dispersibility, stable chemical properties, and low oil absorption, making it a favorite in industrial applications. Its density typically falls within the 2.6-2.8 g/cm³ range, while its refractive index is 1.585, and it has a melting point of approximately 825°C. However, due to its relatively coarse particles, it is less common in applications requiring high transparency.
The production of heavy calcium carbonate encompasses various methods, including the carbonation process, the crushing and grinding method, and the precipitation method. The carbonation process involves a chemical reaction between limestone and carbon dioxide, resulting in calcium carbonate precipitate, which is then processed further to obtain the final product. The crushing and grinding method is more straightforward, involving the breaking and milling of natural limestone to the desired particle size, followed by screening. The precipitation method entails adding a carbonate to a calcium ion-containing solution, generating a precipitate through a chemical reaction, which is then separated, washed, dried, and ground to produce the final product.
The versatility of heavy calcium carbonate is evident in its wide range of applications across multiple key industrial sectors. In the plastics industry, it serves as a filler to increase product volume, reduce costs, and enhance processing performance. In papermaking, it improves paper opacity, smoothness, and printability. The coatings industry benefits from its use as an extender pigment, significantly boosting coating coverage and weather resistance. In the rubber industry, it plays a crucial role in improving processing performance and physical properties. Furthermore, in the food and pharmaceutical sectors, it acts as a calcium supplement or acidity regulator, contributing to people’s health.
In terms of production technology, dry processing equipment such as Raymond mills, ball mills, and vertical mills play pivotal roles. Raymond mills, known for their small footprint, high finished product screening rate, strong systematic performance, and reliable operation, are extensively used to produce heavy calcium carbonate products of specific particle sizes. The combination of ball mills and classifiers is a favored approach by advanced powder technology companies worldwide, capable of producing high-quality products in various particle sizes. The vertical mill plus secondary and tertiary classification dry process represents recent advancements in the fine processing technology of heavy calcium carbonate powders. Utilizing vertical mills, not only can ordinary heavy calcium carbonate be directly processed, but by adding classification steps, medium and high-grade fine powders and ultrafine powders can also be produced to meet the demands of the high-end market.
According to AsiaMB, with technological advancements and changing market demands, the production processes and application areas of heavy calcium carbonate continue to expand and innovate. In the future, this essential chemical raw material will undoubtedly unleash its unique value and role in even more domains.